We are applying for a mortgage, and as part of an assistance program, they want to see proof that we have filed our 2018 taxes. They were mailed by the April 15th deadline with a balance due, that we did not pay yet. The IRS website shows that no return has been processed yet, even though I have certified USPS mail confirmation that it was delivered on April 19th. I need some kind of "proof" that our return was sent to the IRS, other than the USPS tracking number. What can I do in this scenario?
(Note: we could not e-file because it keeps getting rejected, saying there is an incorrect birth date, likely because the SSA has the wrong birth date on file).
Also, if we got the birth date fixed at the SSA, what would happen if we e-filed before the paper return was processed? We owe tax instead of getting a re-fund, so I'm not concerned about delaying that portion.
Your proof of delivery is the only proof that there is until the understaffed, overworked IRS posts the return. If you owed, then how did you pay? Processing your payment would be additional proof of delivery. The most that you can do is supply proof that the IRS received the return - how long it takes the IRS is up to the IRS. You will never see a return that you owe on on the IRS website since that is only for refunds.
You can also check if the IRS has processed yet by checking for a transcript.
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript">https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript</a>
You can also call the IRS.
"They were mailed by the April 15th deadline with a balance due, that we did not pay yet."
Also, ask the lender exactally what proof that they want?
The IRS site only shows the status of returns that are getting a refund -- on the "Where's My Refund" site. It does not display returns that you mailed in for which you owe tax due. So, you have proof that you mailed the return since you have a receipt from the post office, but sadly, you are late in paying your tax due, and will be subject to late penalties/interest for paying after the filing deadline. This may not play well with your lender, but it is what it is.
I'm not concerned about the late fee and penalty right now, I knew that portion. And we have intention of paying the taxes due this week. I'm looking to see when the return will show up on our transcript as confirmation that it was received.
Only the IRS could tell you that. They might be holding it pending payment.
Mailed in returns with a balance due are not first in line to be processed by the overworked understaffed IRS so balance due returns could take 6 weeks or more to show up on a transcript.
get the birth date fixed with the SSA so you can efile next year. getting it fixed might take a while because it is unusual for them to have wrong date. they get the date from records submitted to them. so if the wrong date is in what was submitted, you can expect a time consuming process to rectify it.
see this link